The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus c10.61

c10.61

*The Time-relation in a Chain of Causes and Effects.*—A careful study of the time-relation in a chain of causes and effects is a peculiarity of the Vaiseshika system (and the later Nyáya). A moment (ultimate unit of time, Kshana, क्षण) is defined to be the time-interval between the completion of the sum of conditions and the appearance of the effect. The Vaiseshika conceives the unit to be determined by reference to the division of one atom from another (विभागानुत्पादकविभाग प्रागभाव-सम्बद्धकर्मावच्छिन्नः कालः क्षणः—Śapta-Padárthí, Śiváditya—*i.e.* the ultimate unit of time is the time during which motion exists in an atom prior to its division from another atom, in a case of division due to motion). The Sánkhya, we have already seen, determines this ultimate unit by reference to the motion of a Tanmátra.